This whole credit card thing drives me nuts! Have been an AMEX cardholder since 1961 (they keep reminding me) and PLAT holder since its inception. I recently noticed that AMEX was charging foreign currency transaction fees. We'll be in the UK for a month in June so went tnrough the process of gettting a Capital One card - I received it just as AMEX eliminated the fee! BTW, the new PLAT program providing free access to 600 airport lounges looks pretty good. One thing more - back in the mists of time, I bought an Eastern airlines lifetime pass to what was then the Ionesphere club (I think) My Lifetime President's club membership survived all of the M&A activity over the years. I paid $300 for the original membership!